Norris braced for Pompey farewell

Neil Allen

Now the midfielder is bracing himself to be sold off as the club’s administrators strive to slash costs.

Sheffield Wednesday are the latest club to have been linked with a move for last season’s leading Pompey scorer.

Norris is adamant he has no desire to leave Fratton Park – yet understands he must.

The necessity to clear out high-earners and cash-in on playing assets means the 31-year-old’s Fratton Park days are numbered.

He only arrived from Ipswich last summer, relocating his young family to Swanmore after penning a three-year deal.

Norris went on to score eight goals in 42 games for the Blues last season, including the dramatic St Mary’s equaliser which established him in Pompey folklore.

Yet the former Plymouth man now expects to follow Jason Pearce, Joel Ward and Stephen Henderson out of the door as the club continues to sell off the playing squad.

He said: ‘I’d be surprised if I played for Pompey again.

‘To be honest, it’s just a matter of waiting and seeing what happens. It appears to be just a matter of time.

‘I am waiting for a phone call – a call to say a bid from another club has been accepted and I need to drive over there to hold talks.

‘I don’t think there is anything I can do to stay here. Even if the club was taken over it is clear I won’t be staying on.

‘They just need to get money in to move forwards.

‘I actually would like to stay, my family are very settled down here. My son, Alfie, was born in December and we enjoy living in Swanmore.

‘However, the club is in turmoil and going to have to clear all the decks.

‘Pretty much everyone is going to have to leave.

‘At the end of the day the club could go bust.

‘Players come and go all the time but the club is the most important thing, so I understand and accept I must go.

‘Pretty much all the lads realise to move forwards it is about clearing everyone out and starting again.’

Norris is one of a number of players Pompey are seeking to sell – the others being Luke Varney, Greg Halford, left, Liam Lawrence and Erik Huseklepp. They are also open to offers for Dave Kitson, Aaron Mokoena and Hayden Mullins, while talks are on-going over cancelling the contracts of Tal Ben Haim and Kanu.

Norris, though, has been shocked by the severity of the Blues’ financial situation.

He added: ‘The club has been badly managed over the last few years.

‘I didn’t realise how bad it was until the administrator came in to talk to the players at the end of the season.

‘At times the club’s position didn’t seem as bad as it probably was to the players because the manager kept training bright and happy and the fans were right behind us.

‘We have taken deferrals but they are short-term – players need to leave and a new owner has to come in to help the club in the long-term.’